Pay your fine, only then can you play: PCB tells Shoaib

Karachi, Aug.17 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has told pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar that he can only play in next month's Champions Trophy if he pays an outstanding fine.

The 33-year-old fast bowler won a court battle in July to temporarily suspend an 18-month ban for disciplinary problems, but a fine of seven million rupees was upheld.

"Since the court maintained the fine, the PCB cannot allow him to play for Pakistan as it would be tantamount to flouting the ruling of the court," said PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi.

An original five-year ban, imposed in April for criticising the PCB's failure to award him a central contract, was reduced by an appeals commission to 18 months but the commission also imposed the fine.

Akhtar has refused to pay the fine while he waits for the court to rule on whether it will overturn the ban. The court is likely to hear the case next month, The News reports.